In a statement e-mailed to USA TODAY Network on Monday evening, the McDonald's local owner apologized for the incident and said the employee involved had been fired.

"We are very sorry for the service that our customers received, and to be clear we have terminated the employee who was involved," said Dulcy Purcell, McDonald's operator in Morehead City. "We do not tolerate that kind of behavior at McDonald's, and it's not what we stand for personally as owners."